Chan Chan Food House

American restaurants might well have sparked global demand for fried chicken, but South Korean restaurants have perfected fried chicken recipes, as demonstrated by Chan Chan – also known as Chan Chan Food House – in Huntington Beach and Irvine. The “modern Korean” menu does away with the mandatory dishes of years past (bulgogi, jjap chae, and ojinko bokkum) in favor of current mainstays: sauced or dry crispy battered fried chicken, served either as wings, tenders, or “bites,” a dozen soups including ramens and soondaes, rice cakes with a variety of sauces, kimbap rolls, and of course, beer and soju.

Although we might point to a Korean fried chicken-only chain specialist (say, Pelicana) for that item, this is a pretty good place to experience sweet chili or sweet soy wings, as well as several other flavors, potentially topped with cheese if you need something extra. It’s also home to trendy offerings like rice cakes or pasta with a rosé sauce.

While our favorite items here were spins on fried chicken, Chan Chan’s major differentiators are its sauces – homemade gochujang and others, for strong, clean favors – and freshness, as the restaurants promise that every item is cooked to order. Ambience and service at the Irvine location were, in our view, only OK: You’re supposed to order at the counter, seat yourself, and take care of drinks yourself, points that weren’t totally clear on our first visit and still haven’t been fully communicated to new guests years later.